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Combined parametric optimization of P3HT: PC70BM films for efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells

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Abstract

In this report, the effects of photoactive blend compositions, film thicknesses, and annealing conditions on the P3HT:PC70BM solar cells performance and reproducibility was investigated. The performance of prepared devices was described by examining their absorption spectra, current-voltage characteristics and external quantum efficiency (EQE). The thickness of active layer was achieved as 190 nm, 125 nm, and 90 nm, by maintaining the spin speed. Current density (Jsc) slightly increases from 6.39 to 7.15 mA/cm2 with increase in thickness from 90 to 125 nm; however, with further increase in film thickness (190 nm), the Jsc was reduced to 4.39 mA/cm2. To optimize the device performance, four different compositions of PC70BM (1:0.6, 1:0.8, 1:1, and 1:12) were investigated at the most favorable film thickness ~ 125 nm. The effect of different PC70BM compositions on photovoltaic performance was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman measurements that illuminated modification in structural properties. Additionally, annealing condition led to achieve the good phase separation for efficient charge separation and transport within P3HT: PCBM film which further leads to increased efficiency (PCE ~ 3.31%). These effects deliver valued facts for the choices of PC70BM amount in P3HT:PC70BM system, and this efficient device optimization might be useful in other efficient photovoltaic systems for better performance through excellent reproducibility.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Director of the CSIR-NCL, Pune, and pleased to acknowledge Dr. Kothandam Krishnamoorthy, Scientist, Polymers and Advanced Materials Laboratory, CSIR-NCL, Pune for OPV fabrication and testing. The authors are thankful to Mr. Sundaresan Chithiravel for their support and help during OPV fabrication and testing. The authors are grateful to the Director of the UGC-DAE-CSR, Indore Centre, for performing XRD and Raman measurements.

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  1. Hafsa Siddiqui and Mohammad Ramzan Parra contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optical Nanomaterial Lab, Department of Physics, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, 462003, India

    Hafsa Siddiqui, Mohammad Ramzan Parra, Padmini Pandey, M. S. Qureshi & Fozia Zia Haque

  2. Department of Physic, Sha-Shib College of Science and Management, Bhopal, 462030, India

    Hafsa Siddiqui

  3. Department of Physics, Government Degree College Boys Sopore, Sopore, Jammu & Kashmir, 193201, India

    Mohammad Ramzan Parra

  4. Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India

    Padmini Pandey

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  1. Hafsa Siddiqui
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Siddiqui, H., Parra, M.R., Pandey, P. et al. Combined parametric optimization of P3HT: PC70BM films for efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells. J Solid State Electrochem 23, 3267–3274 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-019-04421-3

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